Key Takeaways
- The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is seeking community input on a proposal to develop a new medical centre on a section of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve.
- The proposed medical centre would be built by Primary Health Care Limited (PHCL), a not-for-profit organization, to meet the growing needs of the community.
- The council has agreed in principle to approve the application, which would see 1137sq m of the reserve reclassified to Local Purpose Reserve.
- The community is invited to share their views on the proposal, with consultation open from November 28, 2024, until February 8, 2026.
- A community drop-in session will be held on December 12, 2024, at Te Ara Mātauranga Waihī Beach Library and Service Centre, where representatives from PHCL and council staff will be available to answer questions.
Introduction to the Proposal
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council is seeking community views on a proposal to develop a new medical centre on a section of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve. The proposal, put forward by Primary Health Care Limited (PHCL), aims to address the growing needs of the community by providing a modern and expanded medical facility. PHCL, a not-for-profit organization, currently operates the Waihī Beach Medical Centre on Wilson Rd, but the existing facility is privately owned and unable to expand, making it no longer fit to meet the community’s needs.
The Need for a New Medical Centre
According to PHCL deputy chief executive Batami Pundak, the existing medical centre is no longer able to keep up with the community’s needs, and a new facility is necessary to provide adequate healthcare services. The proposed medical centre would include more clinical rooms, improved urgent-care capacity, and space for visiting specialists. Additionally, the new facility would provide extra room to train future GPs, which would help attract more doctors to the area and better serve the Waihī Beach community. With the population of Waihī Beach growing, the need for a modern and expanded medical facility is becoming increasingly important.
The Proposal in Detail
The proposal involves leasing 1137sq m of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve to PHCL for 17 years, with an option to renew for another 15 years. The leased land would be reclassified to Local Purpose Reserve, which would allow the medical facility to be located on the reserve while keeping the council’s ownership of the land protected by its reserve status. The new facility would include car parks, accessways, and landscaping, while the rest of the reserve would remain as an open green space for public use. The reclassification of the land would not impact the council’s ownership of the land, and the community would still have access to the reserve for recreational activities.
Community Consultation
The community is invited to share their views on the proposal, with consultation open from November 28, 2024, until February 8, 2026. Feedback will then be shared with councillors to help guide a final decision in February/March 2026. To facilitate community engagement, a drop-in session will be held on December 12, 2024, at Te Ara Mātauranga Waihī Beach Library and Service Centre, where representatives from PHCL and council staff will be available to answer questions and provide more information about the proposal. The consultation period has been extended to 10 weeks to ensure that everyone has a chance to get involved and share their thoughts.
Importance of Community Feedback
The Western Bay of Plenty District Council reserves and facilities manager, Peter Watson, encourages people to come along to the information session to learn more about the proposal and share their views. The council values community feedback and wants to ensure that everyone has a say in the decision-making process. By providing feedback, the community can help shape the future of healthcare services in Waihī Beach and ensure that the proposed medical centre meets their needs. The council’s decision to extend the consultation period demonstrates its commitment to engaging with the community and ensuring that everyone’s voice is heard.
Conclusion
The proposal to develop a new medical centre on a section of the Beach Road Recreation Reserve is an important step towards addressing the growing healthcare needs of the Waihī Beach community. The community’s input is crucial in shaping the future of healthcare services in the area, and the council’s decision to seek community views demonstrates its commitment to transparency and community engagement. By providing feedback, the community can help ensure that the proposed medical centre meets their needs and provides adequate healthcare services for years to come.